St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-14
Communicated

ST. LANDRY PARISH La, May 9th, 1887
Mr.. Editor The question of Pro.
hibition" mas of late to a very limited
extent been mooted in private circles in
our community. Most of the people
seen, have expressed themselves ia
vorably in regard to the proposed agita-
ton of the subject in this parish. We
have found few violently opposed to
it. Some physicians want more prac-
tice, therefore they don't object to wills
key which they know brings on the
most of diseases which they are called
upon to treat. Some lawyers want
more practice, therefore they will not
dscountenance the sale of whiskey,
while they know, acithout ii, their crmi-
nal practice would receive consider
able check.
Some whiskey sellers don't want any
prohibition because the sale of whiskey
! is the only source of their revenue, and
they know that man who drinks will
spend his last and only dollar for
drink.
| Some politicians don't want prohibit
ton because they catch their fish Ill
muddy pools that abound in stagnant
WhiSkey.
Some drunkards don't want Prohbi-
| tlon,-but we will stop here for the
present. We have found only few
persons violently opposed to Prohl bl-
! ton. They seem to consider it an III
friugement npon the rights OF indivi-
duals living in " free country"
They seem to forget that private
rights? should always be subordinate
to the public good. Has the public no
rights of its own? Though this is a
free country and its citizens are free
men, does it necessarily follow that 1t
would not be right to restrain the liber-
ties of individuals in order to promote
the public welfare !
We do not propose to make this a
political nor a religious issue. We
deem it of sufficient Importance to
stand upon its own merits. People of
every race and color, and of all politi-
cal faiths and religious proclivities are
most earnestly requested to take part
in the war against Alcohol. No rea-
sonable man will deny that whiskey
does very little good and a great deal
of harm to mankind.
No thinking man will deny that the
country at large and most OF lndlvl-
duals would be better OIL without than
with it.
No we'll informed man will deny that
it is the cause of most OF the crimes
committed, that it fills our jails and
Pententiaries, our orphan asylums lu
matte asylums and aims houses, and
often sends men to the gallows. Who
can deny that it fills thousands of
drunkards' grave? Who can deny
that it saps the intellect of man and
deprves him of the only quality that
distinguishes him from the brute?
Who can deny that it makes many
wretched, degraded men, many poor
miserable wives and widows and many
helpless orphans? Who can deny
that it is the direct agent OF many OF
the dreadful diseases that carry men
from the hospital to the grave, leaving
as heritage to its offspring some foul
and loathsome stain that medical
science can never overcome. But it is
argued that men eau drink without
too much.
Has experience or observation taught |
us that this is fact save in rare and |
exceptional cases. Does it not on the |
contrary, show that it is almost imp0ss- |
Idle for man to drink habitually with |
ont drinking too much! The civilized !
world is beginning to know and appreci- /
ate the danger of drinking to excess |
where men of small mental calibre are |
allowed to drink rs much as they can |
pay for. Even men OF stronger minds
men of giant intellects. frequently |
sacrifice their intellects, their fortunes,
their homes, their happiness and their |
lives at the altar of the demon, AlcOhoi.
The wretched and most hopeless sot
was once the self-contident moderate
drinker that could not be convinced |
that his appetite would get beyond his
control.
If it were only the poor deluded
arunkard that suffered from his indis-
cretion and his folly it would be our
duty to take some action in the matter
But his family and friends are the suf-
ferers. Many of them suffer for the
very necessities of life, while bus
band, father or Il brother squanders
his scanty earnings at a Cross-rOad
rrog-shop. More than this: If we are
denied the right of voting whiskey ont
Of the country on account Of any hu-
manity we may feel, we claim as right
the privilege of doing so because it is
constant menace to young men and
boys who have not yet attained the
of their faculties. This we
have right to do.
We have friends brothers and sons
that we have right to protect and de-
fend from its debasing influences. We
we're born and raised here under the
genial rays of healthfu sunshine.
Our atmosphere has been poisoned by
The fumes of alcohol and we claim the
right to purify it il it is possible to do
so by the popular vote.
To be continued. f.